Foot exerciser



March 6, 1934. v. 51' H55 5 1,949,906

FOOT EXERCISER Filed Aug. 12, 1951 awe/whoa Vz'ryiZ Z7. 71

Patented Mar. 6, 1934 FOOT EXERCISER Virgil D. Hess, Mansfield, Ohio Applicaticn August 12, 1931, Serial No. 556,655

3 Claims.

This invention is directed to an improvement in exercisers designed more particularly for use with the feet, and serving in such use to aid in the correction of foot troubles such for example as corns, .bunions, and through themuscular exercise provided aid in the cure of other foot distortions.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a foot exercising apparatus of simple readily portable type, in which the user may easily secure the desired exercise of selected muscles of the foot to promote healthy muscular condition, restore the toes to normal relations and spread, and thus overcome, the well-known characteristic difficulties following the wear of ill-fitting shoes.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the exerciser for the great toe.

Fig. 4 is a broken plan showing the means for preventing the foot from slipping laterally during toe exercising.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the means used for spreading the toes apart.

The exerciser comprises two foot boards 1 and 2, the bottoms of which are flat to provide a proper resting surface, while the upper surface is rounded or convex as at 3. These boards are held in spaced relation by transverse brace strips 4, removably held in grooves 5 in the bottom portions of the foot boards.

To the central portion of the forward strip 4 is a securing element in the form of an eye 6, to which is secured the terminals of springs 7 and 8, which extend toward the respective foot boards. The terminals of the springs '7 and 8 are provided with flexible fabric, preferably leather straps, 9 of a size to conveniently receive the great toes of the user, which as will later appear permit convenient exercising of these members.

Each foot board, near the inner edge, is formed with a series of longitudinally ranging holes 10, designed to selectively receive pegs 11. These pegs above the foot board are somewhat broadened and on the side to be engaged by the foot may be provided with protective pads 12, as of rubber or the like. These pegs serve to hold the feet from slipping laterally during the movement incident to exercising the great toes.

(Ci. HZ-57) Each foot board, toward the outer edge and in rear of the straps 9, with springs 13, terminal-.- ly secured to the foot boards by eye members 14, the free ends of the springs beingprovided with straps 15, designed to receive any or all of the toes ,of the foot, other than the great'toe, to affor' exercise for such toes by moving them against the tension of the springs.

The foot boards 1 and 2 are also provided with a number of openings 16, designed to receive 5 spreaders 1'7, which when in place extend above the surface of the board, and in such extended part are more or less wedge shaped. These spreaders are used by forcing them between the toes to insure a proper spreading action and through repetition strengthen the muscles to insure a normal spacing of the toes. Of course it will be understood that the spreaders are interchangeable, and that such are to be in various sizes, and may if desired be of different forms 7 to induce a particular spreading or turning action on the toes. The particular feature here is the provision of removable means of different sizes and forms for working between the toes to tend to a correction of an abnormal relation or condition.

The pegs 11, may if desired be maintained free of direct connection with the foot boards, that is free of insertion in the holes 10. Under these circumstances, the pegs may be used as 5 exercising members, by connecting such pegs to the terminals of a leaf spring 18, centrally secured to the forward strip 4. With movement of the pegs resisted by the spring 18, it is apparent that the side or any portion of the foot 90 may be duly exercised through pressure against such pegs.

The springs 7 and 8 may be covered to protect the foot, by a box like covering 19, and a pad like member 20, preferably of rubber or the like, may be placed at any desired position on the upper surface of the foot boards, or the upper surface of the boards, may, if preferred, be entirely covered by such material. A thin board H like section 21 may be applied to the upper surface of the transverse strips 4 between the foot boards, being removably held in place by pins 22. serving to give the foot 2. more comfortable rest and serve to spread the toes to a greater extent.

The rounded upper surface of the foot boards 1G5 tends under the weight of the person, with the feet in position on the respective boards, to spread the foot and also the toes to a considerable extent, and by working the foot in a rolling motion this general effect is maintained and the muscles tending to establish as a normal condition are strengthened. Either great toe may be inserted in the appropriate strap 9, and with the side of the foot resting against the adjacent peg 11, the toe may be moved against the such spreaders between the selected toes, thev spreaders being of course of appropriate size and form for the work designed.

The entire exercising action is preferably had while the weight of the person is on the foot and the foot held on the rounded upper surface of the foot board. This rounded surface tends in a spreading and relief from crowding of the muscles and bones of the foot, and during this condition the various and particular exercises are most beneficial.

The apparatus as a whole, while preferably constructed of wood for convenient portability and cheapness may obviously be made of any appropriate material, and the various parts of the apparatus may be made up of such materials, sizes and forms best suited to a general exercising function or may be constructed in particular form for particular single exercises.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is-

1. A foot exerciser comprising spaced foot boards rounded on the upper surface, strips holding the boards in spaced parallel relation, springs terminally secured to one of the strips and extending toward the foot boards, and toereceiving straps connected to the free ends of the springs and overlying the upper rounded surface of the foot boards.

2. A foot exerciser comprising spaced foot boards, each having a fiat lower surface and a rounded upper surface, strips holding the boards as a unit in spaced apart relation, toe exercisers secured to said strip and overlying the rounded portion of each foot board, and means carried by each foot board to resist foot movement during use of the toe exercisers.

I 3. A foot exerciser comprising spaced foot boards, each flat on the lower surface and rounded on the upper surface, and toe spreading elements carried by and mounted for adjustment with relation to the rounded surface of each foot board.

VIRGIL D. HESS. [1... s.] 

